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Winter Meetings buzz: Alonso sweepstakes, conflicting Marte reports and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2025 MLB Winter Meetings began Sunday in Orlando, Fla., and the Boston Red Sox have already been linked to multiple stars in the rumor mill.

Will Boston make any noteworthy moves before the meetings conclude on Wednesday? That remains to be seen, but Craig Breslow has already proven to be active this time of year since taking over as chief baseball officer. The Red Sox completed their blockbuster deal for ace Garrett Crochet during last year’s Winter Meetings.

What’s in store for Boston this time around? Here’s the latest from Orlando:

The Joe Ryan dream may be dead

Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan has been linked to the Red Sox since the 2025 MLB trade deadline. Boston inquired about the 29-year-old in July, but according to reports, the two sides never came close to completing a trade.

Don’t expect Ryan to join the Red Sox rotation this offseason, either.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Twins don’t intend to deal Ryan or any other stars on their roster, despite their trade deadline fire sale. WEEI’s Rob Bradford later added that the Red Sox have “drawn back on their pursuit” of Ryan.

An All-Star in 2025, Ryan is an ideal trade target for a Red Sox club that could still use a true No. 2 starter to slot behind ace Garrett Crochet. He’s coming off a strong campaign in which he posted a 3.42 ERA and 1.035 WHIP with 194 strikeouts and 39 walks in 31 games (171 innings).

Instead, it looks like the Red Sox are content with their current starting pitching staff, which looks something like this after acquiring Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals and Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates:

1. Garrett Crochet, LHP
2. Sonny Gray, RHP
3. Brayan Bello, RHP
4. Johan Oviedo, RHP
5. Kutter Crawford, RHP

Other depth options include Connelly Early, Hunter Dobbins, Patrick Sandoval, Payton Tolle, and Kyle Harrison. It’s a relatively deep staff, but one that could use at least one more frontline starter.

Nevertheless, it appears Boston will shift its attention to the big bats on the trade and free-agent markets.

Conflicting reports on Ketel Marte

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason, and those rumors have only heated up at the Winter Meetings. Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported that the Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays were among the clubs showing interest in trading for Marte.

Marte would be an excellent fit for the Red Sox as one of the best offensive infielders in the league. Second base has been a revolving door for Boston over the last few years, and the three-time All-Star would undoubtedly provide stability at the position.

Don’t get too excited, though, Sox fans. Bradford poured cold water on the Marte-to-Red Sox rumors shortly after Heyman’s report:

Marte, 32, slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 homers and 72 RBI last season. He signed a team-friendly six-year, $116.5 million contract with Arizona last April, so it would likely take a hefty trade package to acquire him.

It would be a risky move for a middle infielder approaching his mid-30s, but Marte would add much-needed slugging to the Red Sox lineup while filling one of the roster’s most glaring voids at second base.

Polar Bear sighting in Florida

If you’re a Sox fan who’s bummed out by the Ryan and Marte updates, here’s one that should cheer you up: The Red Sox are among the teams Pete “The Polar Bear” Alonso plans to meet with in Orlando, according to Heyman.

Alonso checks all the boxes for Boston as a right-handed-hitting slugger who can split time between first base and DH. The 31-year-old’s swing is tailor-made for Fenway Park.

Outside of the abbreviated 2020 MLB campaign, Alonso has tallied at least 34 homers in each season of his seven-year career. Last year he hit 38, earning his fifth All-Star nod and finishing 11th in National League MVP voting. He also remained one of baseball’s most durable players, appearing in all 162 games for the second consecutive season.

If the Red Sox are serious about bolstering the middle of their lineup, they should prioritize signing Alonso this winter.

Royals a perfect match?

Earlier this month, it was revealed that the Kansas City Royals would be willing to trade one of their top starting pitchers — including left-hander Cole Ragans — for outfield help. Rosenthal shared an update Sunday, noting that the Royals hope to acquire two outfielders this offseason, one via trade and one in free agency.

Despite the Red Sox’ apparent satisfaction with their current starting staff, this makes them a perfect trade partner for Kansas City. Their outfield is crowded, and Jarren Duran is widely expected to be one of their most valuable trade chips. Although the Royals seem to prefer right-handed-hitting outfielders, Duran is too talented to pass on if Boston includes the 2024 All-Star in an enticing package.

Ragans would immediately slot in as the No. 2 starter behind Crochet, but the Royals appear more motivated to move fellow southpaw Kris Bubic. The 28-year-old broke out in 2025, notching a 2.55 ERA in his first All-Star season.

Why Buster Posey doesn't completely close door on Giants trading Bryce Eldridge originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

ORLANDO — When the Giants first started talking to the Boston Red Sox about Rafael Devers, the initial ask was for top prospect Bryce Eldridge, which was an easy no for president of baseball operations Buster Posey. 

Six months later, others in the industry are playing the part of the Red Sox. With little to discuss in terms of actual moves, Eldridge’s name has been floated in some corners over the past couple of weeks. The thinking from some in the industry is that with Devers at first base, the Giants now can afford to deal Eldridge for a frontline starting pitcher to pair with Logan Webb long-term. 

The organization’s preference, though, is to pair Eldridge and Devers for years to come. During his session with reporters on Monday at the MLB Winter Meetings, Posey threw some cold water on any trade rumors. 

“We listen on everybody, but Bryce, we think the sky is the limit for this guy,” Posey said. “He just turned 21 years old. I know he didn’t put up great numbers in his limited playing time (but) he didn’t look like he was overmatched or scared. I thought he had some really good at-bats for being not even 21 (at the time). I think sometimes you can say, ‘Well the guy is young and maybe you’ve got to take that into account,’ but this guy has flown through the system and is playing at Double-A, Triple-A at 19, 20 years old. 

“I think he’s got a chance to be one of the biggest impact bats for the next 10-15 years in the big leagues potentially. I think we’ll listen, but we like him a lot.”

Eldridge might be the best Giants position player prospect since Posey, and he has done nothing since being drafted in the first round in 2023 to cause anyone to pump the brakes on the hype. He was just 3-for-28 in a late-season cameo, but he also had an average exit velocity of 95.6 mph, just above Aaron Judge’s league-leading mark of 95.4. Had he qualified for leaderboards, he also would have been the leader in hard-hit percentage. 

Eldridge profiles as the type of player you build a lineup around, which is why others understandably ask about him when they start engaging Posey and general manager Zack Minasian in trade talks. But unless a Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal is being dangled on the other end, the Giants seem likely to give the same answer they gave the Red Sox in June. 

While a lot of rumors this time of year have little behind them (the Giants are not actually pursuing Kyle Schwarber, for example), it’s understandable that Eldridge’s name would get floated. Devers is signed through 2033 and it would be a bit unusual to build around a pair of left-handed first base/DH types. While the Giants haven’t fully closed the door on Eldridge one day getting reps in the outfield, that’s not in the plans for 2026. 

Still, Posey thinks the duo works. He offered a quick “yes” when asked about it Monday. On the “Giants Talk” podcast, Minasian pointed out that a lot of teams prefer to rotate players into the DH spot for rest and health reasons, but this situation might be a good exception. 

“Those things make a lot of sense, unless you have someone that you put there that you think is a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat,” he said. 

The more relevant discussion with Eldridge might be how having that combination at first and DH will impact the rest of the roster. Wilmer Flores won’t be back and there doesn’t appear to be room for Dominic Smith, either. Posey said Monday that his preference would be for the bench to offer more positional versatility than it did in 2025. 

Eldridge had surgery earlier this offseason to remove a bone spur in his left wrist, but Minasian said he already is fully cleared. Despite his lack of experience, he’ll be a frontrunner for a roster spot in camp next spring, and the Giants are excited about the possibility of both Eldridge and Devers working with new infield coach Ron Washington on a daily basis in Scottsdale. 

They believe both can grow to be above-average defensively, and Posey said Devers, who showed flashes of being a very good defensive first baseman, won’t be bothered if the Giants end up with a two-man rotation between first base and DH. 

“I think just based on the little bit of time that we were around Rafi last year, he’s a team guy and he wants to win,” he said. “If Bryce is beating down the door, he’s going to want somebody protecting him in the lineup, too.”

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The 2025 MLB Winter Meetings are here.

For the Yankees, it's been a quiet start to the offseason, one that has many fans clamoring for GMBrian Cashmanto start making moves to improve a roster that could not return to the World Series in 2025 after flirting with their first title in nearly two decades a year prior. 

Although Cashman has been known to work in the shadows in the offseason, this year's Winter Meetings could prove fruitful for the Yanks. 

With plenty of holes to fill and questions to be answered, here are five that the longtime GM needs to address this week...

How much are Yanks willing to spend?

This feels like an annual question for Cashman, but it warrants addressing. Hal Steinbrenner's comments about the payroll "ideally" being lower in 2026 have many fans nervous that Cashman will be buying from the bargain bin this offseason. 

Perhaps Trent Grisham accepting the qualifying offer affects the team's spending, but it shouldn't. Bellinger is a clear priority for Cashman, but it will likely take the team over the $300 million threshold. 

Cashman will be asked about this year's payroll and he won't answer in a way that gives clarity, but the best way he can is by signing players who will push them over that mark. Currently, the team's payroll is at around $283.6 million, so one big signing will dispel all questions about the 2026 payroll.

How far is New York willing to go for Cody Bellinger?

Going along with the payroll, Cashman has to answer how far the organization is willing to go to re-sign Bellinger. 

Cashman has been in this position before, most recently with Soto, but with options for a free agent plus outfielder relegated to Bellinger and Kyle Tucker this offseason, the Yankees GM needs someone to man left field. 

Reports say the Yankees are making a "big effort" to bring back Bellinger, but is that all talk? When Soto was a free agent, the Yankees made a good offer, but the Mets simply went above and beyond for the outfielder's services. Will Cashman let that happen again when it comes to Bellinger? It's hard to tell, and Cashman will say it allows Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones a chance to win a spot this spring. But it's an unserious notion considering the team's expectations.

Devin Williams' departure and the bullpen

The Yankees went into the 2025 season with Williams as their closer and now he's on another team. Despite a shaky season, Williams finished strong with the Yanks and a reunion seemed sensible for both sides. But after the right-hander signed a three-year deal with the Mets, it leaves Cashman without a setup man for David Bednar.

Cashman should be asked how close they were of bringing back Williams this offseason, and now that he's gone, what he plans to do to address the holes. Luke Weaver is a free agent. Are the Yankees in on him? What about other high profile relievers like Pete Fairbanks and Robert Suarez?

Is Spencer Jones going to get a chance?

Jones is the buzziest hitting prospect the Yankees have after the slugger mashed his way up the minor leagues. But at this moment, there's no space for the outfielder on the roster.

If the Yankees whiff on Bellinger and Tucker, that can change. However, even if Cashman finds a third outfielder this offseason, is there a spot for Jones as a DH or somewhere else? Cashman said previously that Jones has a chance to crack the Opening Day roster in 2026, but is that still true?

Is the trade market better than free agency?

While teams will negotiate and try to outbid the other teams when it comes to free agents, is Cashman's best path to a formidable roster this offseason via trade?

Cashman has pulled off offseason trades out of the blue before and this year could do so again. There are plenty of starters potentially available via trade (Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, Tarik Skubal) as well as in the outfield if a deal with Bellinger or Tucker can't be done. How far is Cashman willing to swim in the trade waters and who is available?

The longtime GM will keep details close to the vest, but it's worth asking.